Saturday, July 17, 2010

It's a GIRL, again! Plus gigs at ARC and Pickin' Parlor

Dear Patrons of the Arts:

Our Latest Victim....Vicki Hill

We've been so busy of late we might as well have been practicing. (We weren't, of course.)

Instead, we've been using our time more productively, finding a replacement for mandolin whiz Matt Witler, who's off to college in a matter of months.

If he'd had any regard for the band, he could have just gone to Cal State Northridge as a townie and kept performing with us, as his grade-point average gently drifted down into Academic Probation territory -- a locale which has, over the years, produced an astounding number of bluegrass musicians.

But no, Matt has decided to make something of himself. He's going to Boston, to Berklee School of Music

Where they READ music! Like, right off the paper.

Please, PLEASE stay seated, people; there's nothing to be done about it now. It is what it is; life is about choices.

We're lucky we had Matt long enough to hopefully make him Flawed. It was our task to give the lad the musical equivalent of athlete's foot. You can still function, but you have that burning, itching sensation.

We think -- we hope -- we succeeded.

Matt's departure will leave a sizable hole in our little Flawed band, taking us down to just SIX people, and only one mandolin instead of the usual two.

But we have come across a remarkably Flawed solution: Instead of getting another mandolin player, we picked up a second guitar player who also dabbles in banjo.

We're proud to announce the descent into Murphy's Flaw Purgatory of Vicki Hill, a wonderful singer who is still apparently in shock because she's had four rehearsals and one gig and hasn't quit yet.

Before she comes to her senses, we plan two quick performances to wear her down:

Today, Saturday July 17, at the Midsummer Nights Coffee House at ARC. This is always a hoot -- professional stage, incredible talent and, to cleanse the musical palate, The Flaw about 8 p.m. A $20 donation includes dinner, and an open cash bar, which you'll want to visit both before and after our set. The cause is great and as always in these times, so is the need. We hope to see you there.

Then in two weeks, on Saturday July 31, the triumphant return of the Flaw to Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor in Granada Hills, complete with the traditional (by now) cobbler between sets. You can find the details here. This one, a massive theatrical effort, is also $20, but hey, there's cobbler.

Best regards,

Murphy's Flaw

"If it's within one fret of the proper note, it's good enough"

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Murphys Flaw NOT Playing at Sobriety Checkpoint

Saturday July 10, 2010 2:44 PM PDT
Sobriety Checkpoint
WHAT: Sobriety Checkpoint
WHEN: Sunday, July 11, 2010

5 p.m. to 1 a.m.



WHERE: Manchester Boulevard between Hoover Street and Figueroa Street, which is located within the LAPD’s Southeast Division.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Tonight -- Viva Cantina -- Murphy's Flaw -- No audience -- Be part of it!

Murphy's Flaw

is pleased to present

An evening with nobody in particular
Singing
Songs We've Never Rehearsed
Played in
Keys We Seldom Use
On
Instruments that are Probably Not in Tune
in a 
Nearly-Empty Mexican Restaurant

(7:30 p.m. Tonight, Viva Cantina, 900 Riverside Blvd., Burbank CA)

Appearing (in order of finding a parking spot)
Dee Farnsworth (mando/vocals)
John Bryan (banjo/guitar/vocals)
Pete Blackwelder (fiddle)
Shaun Garrity (mando, mandola, guitar)
Paul Dorn (bass/vocals)
Jarrett Lesko (mando/guitar/vocals)
Uli Sinn (Dobro/SuperSlider)
Margee Schubert
Cody Bryant
JoEllen Doering
Earl Scruggs
Bela Fleck
Tommy Emmanuel
David Grisman
Tony Rice
Sam Bush
Emmylou Harris
The Infamous Stringdusters
Ernst and Young
Frick and Frack
Smart and Final
The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
The Board of British Petroleum featuring Tony Hayward
The non-singing waiters of Viva Cantina
Col. Sanders and "The Chicken-Pluckers"
Gov. Mark Sanford and "The Appalachan Trail"


Be there - take up space - order Margaritas - leave us tips!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

We Don't Need no Stinkin' Audience!

First of all, Murphys Flaw,* constantly trying to better its string of third-place finishes at Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest, was overly exuberant and mistakenly snagged SECOND PLACE this year.


A tragic first-place finish was averted at the last minute by the insanely talented kids of the Murphy Family Band. We thank them for their valor.

Now that the crowds are gone and the TV trucks have packed up and headed to their next assignments, it's back down to earth for the Flaw, and with it the monthly Flaw gigs at Viva Cantina next to the horse stables at the edge of Burbank. We think we got the gig because we add so much to the, uh, atmosphere.

Next one is Monday, June 10, 2010. From, oh, 7:30-ish until we run out of material; in other words, 7:45 p.m.

A couple of members had the good sense to be out of town, so we invited all our friends to stage an impromptu on-stage jam at Viva Cantina. Some of them may actually show up, pushing the performance all the way to 8 p.m.

Admission is free, but tips will be collected. If that doesn't keep the attendance down, we don't know what will.

The Flaw








*(official motto: "it sounded better at rehearsal")
(unofficial motto: "We had a rehearsal?")

Friday, May 21, 2010

Monday, May 10, 2010

Just a Short Note....

What? 

The Flaw doesn't write no stinkin' short notes. Short notes are for refrigerator magnets

Here, chew on this:


Oh, you want some Wikipedia, do you?

Had enough? All right.
==========================
Here's the news:

The Flaw will accidently appear at Viva Fresh, Burbank,
at 8 p.m.tonight, Monday May 10, to provide Kentucky-Mex Bluegrass background music while you knock down those incredible $2.50 margaritas.

Before Margaritas
After about the fourth margarita, the magic sets in, and the Flaw a) looks MARVELOUS and b) becomes the best-sounding bluegrass band you've ever heard. In or out of Nashville. We've included some visual aids, below

No admission, tips gratefully accepted (we're not afraid to beg).

Then the 2010 Victory Tour continues on Sunday, May 16 when the Flaw competes at the 50th Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest at Paramount Ranch just a short cattle-drive from Agoura Hills.

We'll be on around the lunch break. So you can pack in a nutritious lunch of Kettle-Korn and settle in for Contestant No. 57, which is us.

Let's all say it together: C O N T E S T A N T  5 7.

Excellent. There will be no margaritas at Topanga, so you'd better stock up tonight at Viva Fresh.


After Margaritas
The Flaw

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Murphy's Flaw Infomercial for Coffee Gallery Backstage



Are you fed up with Pop-Country music??

Are you disappointed with properly tuned banjos?


Would you like to get a caffeine high and higher decibel level?

Hello. My name's Bluegrass Bill. I'm vice-president of sales for Murphy's Flaw.

If you're looking for off-the-wall bluegrass music then listen very carefully because I'm going to
reveal the secrets of Flawed Bluegrass Listening.

Let's talk about the benefits of Murphy's Flaw ...

• It's non-toxic to pet rocks;
• It's what makes silence golden;
• It shrinks goiters instantly.
                          
Here's what one of our listeners said in a recent e-mail to us:

"How do you people stand yourselves?"

And here's what another one of our listeners said:
"Hearing the Flaw makes me cry like a little girl."

You too can abandon all class and go over to the Flawed Side!

Go ahead. If you want to eliminate musical taste, and enjoy the benefits of cacophony,  dizziness,  and  goiter
reduction, then make sure you reserve your ticket within the next 10 minutes.

Murphy's Flaw at Coffee Gallery Backstage

• • • with roots-music trio The Absentees • • •

2029 N. Lake Ave.
Altadena, CA 91001



Sunday, May 2, 2010, at 8 p.m.
$15 at the door. To go through the door may be extra; see Bob.
Reservations suggested: Call (626) 794-2424


Murphy's Flaw: "Gee, Your Banjo Smells Terrific!"

(Thanks to the Infomercial Script Generator)